BEE keepers could soon be buzzing around Newcastle as part of council plans to make the city wildlife-friendly.

The city council has passed a motion designed to protect bees by promoting bee keeping.

Putting a hive on the roof of the civic centre, planting wildflowers and opening up new land for bee keepers are among plans.

Bees have an important role to play in producing food, since they pollinate flowers and crops by flying between them as they feed.

It is estimated that in the UK alone, bees contribute £200m a year to the economy, just by doing what comes naturally.

But bees are suffering from serious decline as a result of disease and changes in farming methods.

Figures from the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) show that a fifth of the UK’s honeybee colonies died in 2008, while a year before, a third of hives failed to make it through the winter.

In the USA, the situation is much more serious. There, one third of hives have been lost over the last two years, and if bees continue disappearing at the same rate, it is estimated there will be no honeybees left in the USA by 2035.

At a meeting of the city council last week, councillors agreed to look at measures which could strengthen bee populations in Newcastle and to show support for the Co-operative’s Plan Bee campaign.

North Heaton councillor Doreen Huddart proposed the motion.

She said: “Bees are essential to the ecosystem of the country. I think we should be making appeals for people to take up beekeeping and getting in touch with beekeepers to see what we can do to help them.”

The motion was supported by South Heaton councillor Henri Murison, who is Labour’s environment spokesman. He said: “I was glad we were able to support the Co-operative Plan Bee campaign to protect bees, along with measures under way by voluntary and horticultural groups, including the Women’s Institute SOS for Honeybees campaign.

“In Newcastle, we agreed we’d look to plant more wildflowers, see if we can reduce pesticide use and also lobby for a review of impact of pesticides on honey bees.”

It was agreed unanimously that the city council should open up council sites and land to beekeepers the same way the Co-operative has done on its farms.

Joyce McCarty, deputy Labour leader, said: “I was glad that all parties were able to support aspirations to save the honeybee.

“I praise everyone on the council for their commitment to this issue. The future of our food supply is at stake, and I hope social enterprises will come forward to produce local honey using our land, reducing food miles and supporting the local food movement.”

Keep safe

IF YOU are interested in keeping bees it is important to get some training and find out about all the issues affecting bees before you start.

If you are thinking of setting up a hive on an allotment check whether there are any site rules which might prevent you from keeping bees.

In any case, get permission from other users before you put a beehive on an allotment and be aware of some people’s fears about bees.

Equally, be aware of your neighbours if you are planning on setting up a hive in your garden.

Before committing yourself to your new hobby it might be a good idea visiting a demonstration in your local area.